Why Guardiola and City Makes Perfect Sense

For City to become the best in Europe, they need the best coach in world football

It was just a matter of time before the announcement would come. Ever since Txiki Begiristain arrived at Man City is was inevitable that at some point Pep Guardiola would join him, and Ferran Soriano there. The pairs success together at Barcelona from 2008-2010 was extraordinary, justifying the belief and faith shown in Guardiola by Begiristain to lead Barcelona. The project at City has been phenomenal in terms of where the club has come in the past several years. With the arrival of Guardiola the club is now in a position to truly challenge for the biggest prize in the game today. Will this prove to be Guardiola's toughest challenge?

Ed Woodward apparently didn’t bother asking him. While this sounds crazy it's fair to say that many knew a long time ago that this was a done deal. But what he even want to go there? Yet this is a club with a rich history but United are a mess in terms of the present squad, and require two or three seasons to get to a level where Guardiola would entertain the idea of managing them. 

Roman Abramovich’s roubles couldn’t attract him to come to London. Why not? Well it's commonly known that Guardiola does not approve of Abramovich’s handling of managers and wouldn't feel comfortable in the role. Arsenal would have been great for him yet Wenger is too stubborn to relinquish his management of the club, even if him stepping down would push the club forwards. No, the only viable option for the world’s best coach was Manchester City. 

In 2008 City's new owners promised to create a lasting dynasty and their journey to the present day has laid the foundations for a coach like Guardiola to push the club to greatness. It’s incredible really. To think a decade ago that Man City would be regarded as the most appealing team in England? 

Much credit goes to the owners, who for all the criticism have sought to build not just a team who can succeed on the pitch, but a club which can compete with the best in the world. They have shown that strong management and having a long term project can bring success. In this sense they look far ahead of clubs like United and Chelsea. 

Guardiola's greatest challenge yet

The investment in infrastructure and the long term, not just in the present, has allowed City to build deep, not shallow, shaky foundations. And with the owners intelligent appointment of Begiristain and Soriano City have men leading the club who understand what an elite, top club requires and how to build it effectively. Add all this in with a near unlimited spend potential and there is really no other alternative to what City can offer a great coach. 

And why should Guardiola settle for second best? There are some criticising him for only going for the best clubs?! Are you kidding me? It’s not like he has failed at the top, like many do. No, Guardiola has achieved incredible things at both Barca and Bayern. He has justified their investment and trust in him, and has proved that he has the talent and intelligence to deal with the demands and level of these clubs. Why he needs to manage a lesser side to prove his credentials baffles me somewhat? 

But people can be stupid sometimes. Some will argue that he had little to no influence on Barcelona, that it was the sheer brilliance of the players which brought the trophies. Guardiola was simply ‘fortunate’ to inherit such a squad. And he took Bayern backwards apparently, from treble winners to serial losers in the Champions League semi-finals. Forget the record breaking league campaigns, or the wonderful football he imparted on the club. Perhaps not winning the Champions League would be seen as something of a disappointment. But to say Guardiola has failed at Bayern if he doesn’t? Come on! 

That being said City does pose his greatest challenge yet. While City have the best squad in the league, while they seem to be in the best position to attract the best talent, they are still infants in the world of elite football. United have history, Arsenal have been around a while and Chelsea have been at the table for over a decade now. City are still the new kids on the block when it comes to banqueting at the elite table. The club, along with its fans are still learning. Learning what it takes and what it feels like. 

In Europe performances have been mixed and progression difficult. Same mistakes and tactical naivety have often characterised City since their beginning in Europe’s top competition. Yes they have had tough groups, yes they’ve faced the best sides when it comes to the knockout games. But ultimately City have looked amateurs on the grand stage. 

Six years in however, after Mancini and Pellegrini, City have now brought in a coach who genuinely understands what European football requires. This is a man who has been the most consistent and successful manager in the Champions League for the past several years. Since 2009 Guardiola has been to two finals, winning both and reached the semi-final at least every season from 2009-2015 (dis-counting his year off). It is quite an achievement. 

His record and trophy haul is remarkable yet so too is his influence on the modern game. In fact Guardiola has almost single handily defined the modern game. His football has captivated the world, while it has also led to the development of greater opponents who seek to defend and stifle his style. Unquestionably the modern game owes a lot to Guardiola’s tactics and intelligence. Both Barca and Bayern have profited from his approach, and now it’s City’s and England’s chance to experience him first hand.

The perfect man for a dynasty

Guardiola is perfect for City. After the foundations were laid under Mancini, mainly defensive ones, yet certainly the building blocks for success. In which time City won the FA Cup and their first league title. And with the more expansive attacking mentality of Pellegrini, who brought a new dimension to this evolving side, bringing more attacking flair and entertainment. He too won two trophies, doing the double; the title and a league cup in 2014. 

It was clear the desire of the club was to have had these foundations laid for the arrival of Guardiola. For all the chaos and upheaval at Chelsea, for the apparent confusion on the plan and vision at United under Woodward, it's clear that City's owners and executives have laid out a long term plan which they are working towards in a methodical manner. The fact Guardiola would see City as the best option points not just to the work that City have done in recent years, but to the state of the Premier League's other top clubs. 

And it’s not just at senior level, the new Academy complex and their vision for the future coincides perfectly with Guardiola’s arrival. This is a coach who has proven to value and trust in youth and promote clubs Academy players. There seems no doubting to think he will do this again, especially with the quality which City are producing/bringing in and developing. This again go in line with the clubs vision and ambitions to bring through their own players. 

Yet his first influence needs to be on the squad. And to be honest it has got to a stage where changes are needed. In a similar way to what happened at Barca in 2008 Guardiola will need to assess which players he trusts to push forward with, and who he can rely on to play the kind of football he and his bosses want. Key men like Yaya Toure need moving on to allow for the progression and development of the team to work along Guardiola’s vision. 

It has become a rather old side, showing a certain lack of dynamism and energy at times. This has cost them in games both in the league and in Europe and fresh faces are needed. The additions of Sterling and De Bruyne, a year before Guardiola's arrival, perhaps to allow integration and maturity in the club, will give him two versatile, dynamic and skilful attacking options to compliment and support the great Sergio Aguero. Aided with the playmaking abilities of Silva and the attack already seems pretty set (however extra cover and depth will be important in a demanding league).

There is a sense with City however that it is their defence which is the problem. And while the expensively bought Mangala and Otamendi haven’t looked fantastic to say the least, it is not just the back four which is the problem. While Guardiola is regarded as an attacking coach, in fact he places a lot of emphasis and care on the defence. His high pressing, transition press which has characterised his teams at Barca and Bayern hasn’t been seen at City, at least not consistently. There has been a lethargy and casualness, or even arrogance in their defending which has been very costly. This is why Yaya Toure has no place in Guardiola’s side. He often sets the tone for the tempo and attitude of the team, which often is too slow and casual. This needs to change, and the only outcome is him leaving. The midfield need more energy, dynamism and defensive work rate. It seems that with Pellegrini's desire to attack and be on the front foot, he has made City’s defence/defenders look incredibly weak and mediocre at times. Guardiola should improve these players and make them justify their large fees.

But perhaps the biggest challenge for Guardiola will be the competitiveness of the league itself. Coaches like Klopp and van Gaal have shown that regardless of their history and success outside of England the Premier League can be a very different beast and it can truly test top coaches. 

The intensity of the games, along with the schedule, makes it a very demanding league both physically and mentally. And for a coach who is very obsessive when it comes to preparation for each game, Guardiola may have more to do than he has before. 

Add in the league’s extra competitiveness evidenced this season and although I don't wish to use the cliché, there are very, if any, easy games. Therefore for him to win the league he needs to make sure his side are prepared, focused and conditioned for each game. Walking away with the title like he has done at Bayern doesn't seem likely. 

In terms of training Guardiola’s approach has been shown to lead to something of an injury crisis at Bayern, with each season injuries seemingly costing his side the Champions League. His methods have been criticised for not focusing enough on the conditioning/fitness needs, with him preferring to train the football element, leading to the development of ‘football fitness’. Guardiola needs to prepare perfectly for the season ahead if he wishes to win domestically and in Europe. Yet even the great Mourinho tried and ultimately failed to periodise his season to peak later and paid the price.

In terms of tactics it may be difficult for him to succeed with the type of football he wishes. Many of Premier League sides have opted for a more counter attack strategy and the league possesses some fantastically quick and dynamic transiton type players, an area of Guardiola’s style which has been shown to be it’s Achilles heel. Add in this idea that the Premier League is one of the hardest for ‘game control’. Rafa Benitez has often remarked how it is very hard to maintain control in a Premier League, with him commenting that after 60 mins the game becomes ‘chaos’. With Guardiola being such a strict tactical coach, who seeks near complete control of the game, it will be intriguing to see how he does in this ‘chaotic’ league.

It is very exciting to know that Guardiola will be part of English football for the next three years (at least). And what rivalry ensues. His ex-Bundesliga foe Klopp at Liverpool, his anti-thesis Mourinho at United (Woodward would be foolish not to hire him), his kindred spirit in Wenger with their desire for totalfootball and even perhaps a Bielsa-inspired Pochettino at Chelsea. It may be that Guardiola’s experience in England is a culmination of his time in the world of management. 

It really may be his greatest test. Barca had Madrid, Bayern had Dortmund yet England really does have several relatively strong opponents for him deal with. This season has been a strange one, yet if these clubs get their acts together, and especially with Guardiola being confirmed at City, the Premier League’s top clubs must know they need quality in their manager. If it does end up looking something like this then the Premier League is in for a great ride, both on and off the pitch. With the addition of a number of top quality players along with some of the games best coaches, the coming seasons promise to be extremely entertaining and fascinating. 

This appointment is great for City. Guardiola is arguably the best coach in world football. He is innovative, tactically excellent and plays football which can be breath-taking at times. The timing is perhaps perfect for him to step in to this role. City are at that point as a club where they now look comfortable being an ‘elite’ side, and what they need now is an elite coach to take them to the kind of success their owners have sought since they bought the club in 2008. 

Coaches like Mourinho may bring the success, but it’s clear that City’s owners and executives want to do it with more quality. Like Bayern did when they hired Guardiola, they didn’t just want success, they wanted a coach who could make them the best in the world, playing the kind of football which captivated fans all over. Guardiola promises this. Can he create a legacy and dynasty? It is a hard task, yet one which he has taken on and embraced since 2008 since he started managing at the top level. This may be his hardest test yet. 

The Whitehouse Address @The_W_Address

Universality | The Blueprint for Soccer’s New Era
How Pep Guardiola is showing us the future game
Looking at the evolving game and pointing to what the future game holds. Universality looks at the past two decades of the game assessing the key changes in tactics, philosophies and positions. Looking at where the future game is heading, looking particularly at Guardiola as the man who is putting down the blueprint for the future game. For those with an interest in the game, especially coaches, this is a book you will not want to miss!

You can get your copy of Universality by clicking this link